Helmet



S epi. 9, 1930?; J. M. RUSSELL HELMET Filed June 22, 1928 INVENTOR M BYW A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1930 JAMES M. BITS-$151131,102EI sANnIEe cALIronnIA, AssIGrron. ro RUSSELL PARACHUTE COMPANY, onwxnmmeron, DELAWARE, A oonronerron or DELAWARE Hemm- Application edian-s22, 1928. "Serial u 287,412.

i Thisinvention relates to helmets and particularly fto that class of helmets adapted to be worn byaviators'. i s

One object of theinvention' is the provision of a; helmet which is formed'of separate sections of material so connected and designed as to impart a head-fitting convexity to the helmet. l

Another object of the invention isthe provision of a helmet of thecharacter mentioned formed of only threesections of material sewed together in a mannerto imparta head fitting convexity tothe helmet and adapted:

to snugly fit heads of various proportions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing in which.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a helmet embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the helmet shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view ofthe top section of the helmet;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the side sections of the helmet;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a modified form of helmet;

Fig. 7 is a detail of the top section of the helmet shown inFig. 6 and Fig. 8 is'a detail of aside section of the helmet shown in Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by reference numerals and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 10. indicates a helmet adapted to be worn by. an aviator and'constructed of sections of softpliable leather or other suit able material. it This helmet embodies a pair of similar side sections 11 sewed to a top section 12. l l

Each side section 11 is cut out along a line 14 to provide a face opening. The lower rear portion of this side section is cut out along .a curved line 15 to form the-neck opening of the helmet, and a chin strapv 16 is provided.

adapted to be fastened under the chin of the aviator in a suitable manner. The rear of the side section is convexly curved as shown at 17 the two side sections being seamed'to gether along this line at the rear of the helmet. i

The upper portion of the side section is pro videdwith an enlargedrecess 18 between the curved forward portion 19 and the rear upper j part of the side sectiomas shown.

The top section 12 as shown in Fig. 4 extends rearwardly from the front edge 20 along the top of the head. Near the top of the helmet this top section is bulged outwardly on each side as indicated at 21 and 22, these two bulges being connected integrally withlthe forwardly projecting tongue 23 by means of siderably less in width than thewidth of the enlargements or bulges 21 and 22. The bulges comparatively narrow portions of -material as indicated at 24;, these portions being conareshown as approximately circular in pe ripheral" outline. v

' The side sections are sewedto the top sec Y tion, the front edge of sidesectionat 19 being sewed to the sideof the tongue portion 23 of the top section, and the recess '18 receiving the bulge 21 or 22 of the top section. The

toprear peak portion 26-0f the side section is attached to the part 27 atthe center of the top section12, the seam 28 between the top and side sectionsbeing indicated in Fig 1. As the bulges 21, 2:2 are of a wi dth at 24 considerably'less than the width between. the peak 26 and the top front convex portion 19 of a side section it will be apparent that when the side and top sections are fastened to gether the forward and rearward upper portions of the side section will be drawn toward one another, and the helmet will thus be given a convex head-fitting contour adapted: to fit the aviators head without causing undue pressure on any portion. The smoothly curved contours of the sections provide a con struction in which'theseams do notpucker and the convexity ofthe helmet is properly distributed. As the chin straps are pulled the helmetwill fit very even and an even tension is permitted on all parts of theheadi A helmet of this construction of one-size will fit a great number of varying face and neck contours due to this even pull. The contour of the sections is such that they may be easily interlocked when they are cut outfrom large sheets 'of materialxfor the conservation or material. Only two patterns need to be used in the construction of helmets of this character since the side sections are identical in contour.

In Figs. 6, T and 8 a modified form of helmet is shown. In this form the helmet 29 section 31, the seam being indicated at '32 in Fig. 6.

Each side section 31 is cut out along ajline 33 to provide a face portion and is extended downwardly as at 8 to provide a chin strap. The rear part of this side section is cut out at 85 providing a neck opening for the helmet.

In'order to give the helmet a head fitting and convex contour so that any helmet is adapted to fit heads of different sizes in a snug manner, each side section, wh1ch 1s preferably cut as a single piece from a sheet of material, is provided with a recess 36shown in the form of a notch of substantially V- sha-pe, adjacent the central upper portion of each side section as shown. The opposite sides of the recessed portion of the slde sections are drawn towards one another to provide for convexity of the helmet, the two edges 37 of the notched-out opening being seamedtogether as indicated at 38 in Fig. 6. The cut or recess 86 extends to about the center of the side section, or, more definitely, to the ear position so that pressure of the, car will" not obtain, and the helmet is thus adapted tofit the head snugly without unduepressure at any point.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus. and that ch'angesmay be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

hat is claimed is:

1. An aviators helmet comprising acentral top section extending rearwardly from the front of the helmet and having a curved bulge portion at each side thereof, and'side sections connected to said top section and each having cut-out portions to which said bulge portions are fastened.

2. An aviators helmet formed of different sections interlocked together to impart a convex curvature to the helmet, one section having an outwardly bulged portion connected thereto by a comparatively narrow strip of material, anadjacent section having a recessed portion to which the bulged portion and strip of said one section is sewed.

3. An aviators helmet formed of different sections and comprising a top section extending rearwardly from the front of the helmet having a downwardly and laterally extending bulge portion connected thereto by material of less width than the bulge portion, anda side section having a recessed portion the edges of which are fastened to the edges of the bulge portion ofthe top section.

4.,An aviators helmet formed of three sections of flexible material and comprising a top section extendingrearwardly from the front of the helmet and having side bulge portions connected adjacent the top'of the helmet to the main portion of said top sec tion through a comparatively narrow, portion of material, and side sections attached to the said top section and each having a recessed portion the edges of which are fastened to the bulge portions of the top section to impart a convex contour to the helmet, the front andirear'upper portions of each side section being drawn towards one another to'interlock with the bulge portions of the top section.

In testlmony whereof 1. hereto affix my signature.

JAMES M. RUSSELL. 

